Switch-controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers.



L. HOLLAND-LUZ.

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1913. Patented 5, 5 SHEETS-SHEET] L.HOLLAND-LUZ. SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I913.

N UTKAMOI Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TIN

L. HOLLAND-LET Z.

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PETERS m, Puomumo" vusmucmm n. c.

I L. HOLLAND-LUZ. SWITGH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, NH.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LL HOLLAND-LETZ.

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF RAKE REAPERS.

" APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I9I3.

Patented D605, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- w A 2' 2? v 26 w LUD HOLLAND-LETZ, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB. TO INTERNATIONAL HAR- VES'IER COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY,A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 24, 1913. Serial No. 769,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUD HOLLAND-LETZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-ControllingMechanism for Self-Rake Reapers, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to switch controlling means whereby the switch willbe automatically released at predetermined intervals for the purpose ofpermitting the rake mechanism to sweep the grain platform and deliverthe accumulated grain therefrom, combined with means whereby theoperation of the automatically operating mechanism may be temporarilysuspended when it is desired that the grain be permitted to ac cumulateupon the grain platform, as when the machine is being turned at thecorners of the field, and whereby the opening of the rake switch will beat all times under the control of the operator regardless of theadjustment of the automatically operating mechanism; the object of theinvention being to provide a mechanism that will be positive andeiiicient in operation and not subject to disa1-range1nent from wearupon the parts thereof. I attain these objects by means of mechanism,one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich-- Figure 1 represents a top plan view of part of a self-rakemechanism having my invention embodied in its construction; Fig. 2 is aside elevation of Fig. 1 showing the rake head and part of the rakesattached thereto, and illustrating the operation of my invention; Fig. 3is a side elevation of partof Fig. 1 showing the switch controllingmechanism in one position of adjustment; Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 and showing the switch controlling mechanism in a differentposition of adjustment; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 as viewedfrom left to right of the sheet; Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation of atoothed switch controlling member forming a detail part of themechanism; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a top planview of a switch latch member; Fig. 9 is a vertical side elevation ofFig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of parts of: the switchcontrolling mechanism designed to illustrate the operation of theassociated parts of the same; Fig. 11 is a vertical side elevation of abarrel member forming part of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 12 is aside elevation of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a side elevation of Fig. 12.

The same reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

1 represents a part of a rake stand, 2 a vertically arranged rakedriving shaft journaled therein, 3 a rake controlling cam mounted uponthe stand, the cam having a common form of switch 4 adapted to open orclose the passageway 5, separating one portion of the cam from anotherin a manner whereby the rakes are either raised to pass over the grainaccumulated upon the platform of a reaper, or permitted to sweep acrossthe platform in a manner to deliver the grain therefrom. The switch 1 isprovided with a vertically arranged spindle portion 6 that is journaledin a depending sleeve 7 integral with the cam 3. A head portion 8 isadapted to swing laterally in a manner to open or close the passageway 5for the entrance of rollers 9 j ournaled upon the rake carrying arms 10that are pivotally connected with a head member 11 secured to the upperend of the rake driving shaft 2. The rake switch t is also provided witha heel portion 12 that projects into the passageway 5 within the path ofthe rollers 9 when the switch is in open position.

13 represents a collar member secured to the lower end of the spindle 6and provided with a vertically arranged ear portion 14: that receivesone end of a coiled spring 15, the opposite end of the spring beingconnected to a sleeve member 16 carried by the spindle 6 and permittedto have a limited rocking movement thereon for purposes to be describedlater, the spring being operative to normally open the switch and permita free passage of the rollers 9 car ried by the rake arms 10 through thepas" sageway 5 between the two portions of the rake controlling cam. Theheel member 12 of the switch 4 terminates in a depending locking member17 that is received by a segmental slot 18 arranged concentric with theaxis of the switch.

19 represents a switch latch member mounted upon a pin 20 that isreceived by lateral openings in depending ear members 21 integral withthe cam member 3; the latch member being provided with a laterallyextending arm member 22 having a curved portion'23 that is received bythe 5 segmental slot 18 in the cam, the curved portion of the latchmember terminating in a shoulder portion 2st that engages with thelocking member .17 of the switch whensaid switch is in a closedposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The latch securing the switch inits closed position is actuated in a direction toengage the switch bymeans of .a spring 25 coiled about the sleeve 7 and having one endconnected with the latch be- "lowthe axis thereof, and the opposite endof the spring connected with a dependin finger 26 integral with theswitch 4. "27 represents'a sleeve member secured to the rake drivingshaft 2 and provided with 'a series of face cams 28. arranged as partsof I quadruple threads of a worm, each cam extending through 90 of theperiphery'of the sleeve and corresponding in number with "the number ofrakes carried by the rake "head. The sleeve member 16 is provided withatransversely arranged barrel member ""29'that receives a stem-30integral with a toothed latch tripping member 31 adapted to'engage withthe'cams 28 and provided I 30 with a contact portion 82 that engageswith fan arm 33 integral with the switch latch member .19 in a manner torock the latch 7 about the axis thereof when the toothed sect'or hasreached a predetermined limit of its 35 irocking movement in onedirection. The toothed sector 31 is provided with four teethcorresponding with the number of rakes and thefni 1mber of cams 28 inthe worm, and is normally turned in a direction toengage '40 withthecams 28 by means of the spring 15 eiigagingwith a vertically arrangedarm 3 1 integral with the sleeve 16, and 35 represents a supplementalarm integral with the sleeve 16 11pQI1 "tl1 opposite side thereof andex- 45, t ending upward within the path of moveiiment ofthe dependingfinger 26 forming part of the rake switch 4. 36'represents a rock shaftournaled in depending ear members 37 integral with the :c'amB having anupwardly extending lever arm 37 at one end thereof that extends :withinconvenient reach of the operator and {is adapted to engage with anotched index {sector '38 in a manner to secure the shaft in variouspositions of adjustment, the opposite end of the'shaft being providedwith a laterally extending arm 39 provided with an eye member 40 wherebythe arm is connected {with the upper end of a link member 41, the lower.end of the link being slidably connected with the toothed latch trippingsector 31 by means of an eye member 42 integral with the said sector andprovided with a large open hook 43 .at the lower end GS thereOf-P"Wh-en'the toothedvlatch tripping sector is rocked. upward about theaxis thereof into engagement with the switch latch, it will slidefreely. along the link member 41 until it causes the switch latch torelease the switch 4, and the switch will be immediately thrown open bythe force of the spring 15, and as the switch approaches the limit ofthe angular movement thereof to an open position, the finger 26 engages*with the arm 35in a manner to rock the sleeve 16 about the axis of thespindle 6 and thereby causethe toothed latch tripping sector 81 to swingoutof engagement with the actuating cams 28, and it immediately falls toits initial position as controlled by the open hook 4-3 at the lower endof the link 41. The limit of the upward movement of the latch trippingsector is fixed. at a point that will cause the switch latch to be fullyreleased from the switch and its downward swing is limited by theposition of the hook 13, and the position of the hook is controlled bythe position of adjustment of the arm 37 relative to the index sector38. When the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and engaging withthe notch having the num-' ber 5, each fifth rake will sweep theplatform, for the reason that the sector 31 will not drop below aposition that will permit one of the cams 28 to engage with the highesttooth thereon, and as the cams successively engage with the teeth thesector is raised until it causes a disengagement of the switch latch 19,permitting the succeeding rake to enter the passageway 5; the series ofcams and teeth being properly arranged and the movement thereof so timedas to move in unison with the rakes and prevent any premature opening ofthe switch that might cause an injury to the operative parts of themechanism. hen the lever is in the position to be engaged by the notchnumbered 1, the cams will only engage with three of the teeth andeachfourth rake will sweep the platform; if in number 3, with two teeth, andeach third rake will sweep the platform; and if in number 2, with onetooth, and each second rake will sweep the platform. When the handadjusting lever is placed at the position designated by the indexnumeral 0, none of the rakes will sweep 'the platform for the reasonthat the latch tripping sector has dropped to a position where none ofthe teeth upon the sector will engage with the cams 28, and consequentlythe switch remains locked in a closed position. When the lever is in theposition in dicated by numeral 1 and the switch latch j. has beendisengaged from the switch. a dcpending arm 44 integral with the latchengages with a laterally projecting finger 45 integral with the latchtripping secton 81, as

'shown in Fig. 4, in a manner to hold the switch latch against a rockingmovement in "a direction to hold the switch-closed, and

consequently it opens as soon as the roller upon the rake arm has passedthe heel thereof, and each rake will sweep the grain platform. When themechanism is adjusted to a position whereby each rake will sweep thegrain platform, the constant opening and closing of the rake switch, andconsequent rocking movement of the sleeve member 16 carrying the toothedlatch tripping sector 31, will vibrate the sector more or less as eachrake passes the switch, and to prevent any possibility of disarrangementof the parts and rattling thereof, the finger 45 is provided at the freeend thereof with a lip member 46 that engages with the depending arm 44in a manner to limit an outward swinging movement of the toothed latchtripping sector.

47 represents an arm loosely mounted upon the lower end of the spindle 6and adapted to be connected with a foot lever mounted upon the machinewithin convenient reach of the operator. The arm 47 is adapted to engagewith the toothed latch tripping sector 31 when swung in one direction ina manner to swing the sector about the axis thereof to a limited extentand to a position permitting one of the faced cams 28 to engage with thelower teeth upon the sector. When it is desired to suspend the operationof the automatic con- 47 en 'a es with a fixed art of the mecha-.

nism in a manner to limit a swinging movement thereof in a direction toactuate the toothed latch tripping sector, and when the arm 47 hasreached the limit of its swinging movement, it engages with thedepending arm 34 in a manner preventing a rocking movement of the sleeve16 in a direction to permit the toothed latch tripping sector to engagewith the cams 28 until the operator releases the arm 47. When themechanism is adjusted as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, none of the rakes willsweep the platform, and if the operator desires to suspend such action,he will throw the arm 47 in a direction to lift the toothed latchtripping sector to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, andwhen the arm is released the toothed latch tripping sector willimmediately swing into engagement with one of the cams 28 and cause thedisengagement of the switch latch, and the switch will open and allow arake to pass, and in doing so will rock the sleeve 16 and swing thesector outward and it will fall to its initial position. If themechanism is in the position of adjustment shown in Fig. 4, with theswitch latch locked in position, each rake will sweepthe platform, andif the operator desires that the switch be closed temporarily, he willmanipulate the arm 47 in a direction to raise the toothed latch trippingsector to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, and when theswitch closes the latch will be moved in contact therewith and it willbe held closed until the operator releases the arm 47, for the reasonthat the depending arm 34 is engaged by the arm 47 and the sleeve 16 isheld turned in a direction preventing the engagement of the toothedsector with the cams 28, and in the same manner the operator is able tocontrol the mechanism through the arm 4-7 so as to temporarily suspendthe automatic action thereof regardless of the position of the arm 37relative to the index sector 88.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it is to be understood thatthis form thereof is used for purposes of illustration and that the invention is not limited thereto and may assume other and modified formswithout departing from its spirit.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a pivoted switch forming a partthereof and having a heel portion engageable by a roller passing throughthe switch, the heel portion of the switch terminating in a locking mem;her, and a-switch latch for engaging said locking member.

2. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a pivoted switch. forming a. partthereof and having a heel portion engageable by a roller passing throughthe switch, and a switch latch engaging the heel portion of said switch.

3. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a pivoted switch forming a partthereof and having a heel engageable by a roller passing through theswitch and terminating in a depending portion, and a switch latchengageable with the depending portion of said heel. I

4. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a

pivoted switch forming a part thereof and having a depending spindle, aswitch latch pivoted on said cam engaging said switch at a point at oneside of its pivot, and means carried on said spindle for controllingsaid latch.

5. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a pivoted switch forming a partthereof and having a heel terminating in a depending portion, and acooperating switch latch member mounted beneath said cam having ashoulder portion engageable with the depending portion of the switchwhen the latter is in closed position.

6. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a pivoted switch forming a partthereof and having a heel provided with a depending portion, a latchmember mounted beneath said cam having a portion engageable with thedepending portion of the switch when the latter is in closed position,and means normally holding said latch in switch engaging position.

In a reaper switch, a cam track, a

pivoted switch forming a part thereof and having a depending spindle,said switch having a heel provided with a depending portion, a latchmember mounted beneath said cam and having a portion engageable with thedepending portion of the switch when the latter is in closed position,and a spring carried on said switch spindle and connected to said swltchand latch.

8. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a

switch pivoted thereon, said track havinga slot therein concentric withthe pivot of said switch and said switch having a depending portion onits heel movable in said slot, and a switch latch journaled beneath saidcam having an arm movable in said slot and engageable with the dependingportion ofsaid switch.

9. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a

switch forming a part thereof, a latch member controlling said switch,rake driving mechanism including a plurality of rotating cams, a latchtripping sector engageable successively with said cams, and a linkcoupled and slidably connected to said sector and adjustable to vary therange of movement thereof.

10. In a reaper switch, a cam track, a switch forming a part thereof, aswitch latch, rake mechanism including a plurality of rotating'cams, alatch releasing sector engageable with said cams, and means coupled andslidably connected to said sector and journaled beneath said rakemechanism angularly adjustable to vary the range of movement of saidsector.

11. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake controlling 'cam, a pivoted switch forming part ofsaid cam and having a depending spindle, a spring controlled switchforming part of said cam and provided with a depending spindle, apivoted switch latch, means mounted upon said spindle and operativerelease sald latch, and means carried by said spindle and adapted toengage with said switch latch in a manner to render said latchinoperative.

14:. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake controlling cam, a pivoted switch forming part ofsaid cam and provided with a depending spindle portion, a pivoted switchlatch, a swinging latch releasing member mounted upon said spindle, andan arm forming part of said member, said arm adapted to engage with saidswitch latch and lock it in an inoperative position.

15. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination,

a fake controlling cam, a pivoted switch forming part of said cam andprovided with a depending spindle, a switch latch, a swingingautomatically operated latch tripping lever mounted to turn about theaxis of said spindle, and a foot controlled arm loosely mounted uponsaid spindle and adapted to engage with said latch tripping lever andswing it into an operative position.

16. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake controlling cam, a switch forming part of said camand provided with a depending spindle, a switch latch, a switch latchreleasing member mounted upon said spindle and operative positively torelease said latch, and an arm under the control of the operator forraising said releasing member to an operative position.

17. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake controlling cam, a pivoted switch forming part ofsaid cam and provided with a depending spindle, a switch latch pivotedupon a fixed part of the mechanism and operative to lock said switch ina closed position, a worm, a sleeve journaled upon said spindle, aswinging toothed latch releasing sector pivotally mounted upon saidsleeve engageable with said worm to release said switch latch, meansincluding an adjustable member controlling a swinging movement of saidsector in one direction whereby it may be given various initialpositions, said sleeve having a vertically arranged arm engageable withsaid switch in a manner to turn said sleeve about the axis thereof whensaid switch is moved to an open position, and spring mechanism foryieldingly moving said switch to an open position and said toothedsector out of engagement with said worm.

18. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake stand, a vertically arranged rake driving shaftjournaled in said stand, a rake carrying head secured to said shaft, arake controlling cam secured to said stand, a pivoted rake switchforming part of said cam, a spring normally operative to swing saidswitch to an open position, a switch latch operative to hold said switchin a closed position, means for controlling the movement of said latch,said means including a series of cams rotatable with said rake drivingshaft and arranged as parts of quadrilateral threads of a worm, apivoted toothed latch tripping sector adapted to engage with said cams,a rock shaft journaled in bearings carried by said stand and said rake,having a hand lever at one end thereof, and a laterally projecting armat its opposite end, and a link connection between said arm and saidlatch tripping sector.

19. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake stand, a vertically arranged rake driving shaftjournaled in said stand, a rake carrying head secured to said shaft, arake controlling cam secured to said stand, a pivoted rake switchforming part of said cam, a spring normally operative to swing saidswitch to an open position, a switch latch operative to hold said switchin a closed position, means for controlling the movement of said latch,said means including a swinging toothed latch tripping sector, a rockshaft journaled in bearings carried by said stand, said shaft having ahand lever at one end thereof and a projecting arm at its opposite end,and a sliding link connection between said arm and said latch trippingsector.

20. A switch controlling mechanism for self-rake reapers including, incombination, a rake stand, a vertically arranged rake driving shaft journaled in said stand, a rake carrying head secured to said shaft, arake controlling cam secured to said stand, a pivoted rake switchforming part of said cam, a spring normally operative to swing saidswitch to an open position, a switch latch operative to hold said switchin a closed position, means for controlling the movement of said latch,said means includ ing a swinging toothed latch tripping sector, a rockshaft journaled in bearings carried by said stand, said shaft having ahand lever at one end thereof and a projecting arm at its opposite end,and a link having one end thereof flexibly connected with said arm and ahook at its opposite end, the body portion of said link being slidablyconnected with said sector.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

LUD HOLLAND-LETZ. Witnesses JOHN P. SMITH, VINCENT D. LAWLER.

flopies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D C.

